It’s been a beat but I’m back…for now. Between grad school taking over everything, training and racing a half marathon last weekend and life in general, I haven’t made time to write here until now. Let’s see how much I can cram into this post before I disappear into oblivion again…

SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | 2019
RUNNING + RACING
If you recall, I have been training for what will most likely be my last goal race for a while. The Hartford Half Marathon was last weekend and my true goal was to feel good and strong to the finish and win the mental battle. Mission accomplished.

I worked my ass off on the track, roads and in the weight room since May (yes, May!) to prepare for this race and get my body from triathlon shape to half marathon shape. It wasn’t always easy but I was determined to race well over 13.1 miles.
Originally my goal was to come as close as possible to my 2015 PR of 1:28. I thought 1:30/1:35 would be reasonable but ultimately, as the date approached, I set my realistic sites on 1:38 which is a 7:34 average pace. I almost completely nailed it.
Did I mention my coach announced a life change and her leaving coaching for the foreseeable future in late August? Yep, that happened too.
So, back to race day — I ended up going alone (another story I won’t get into), the weather was perfect and I was determined to run strong and rule my mental game. Everything went amazingly well until about mile 11 when the 1:40 pace group passed me. Instead of getting defeated, I dug in deep, and made it to the finish in 1:39:36 which is a 7:36 average pace and placed 8th out of 257 in my age group. I did it.

Next up is a 10 mile race in Stowe, Vermont with a good friend of mine who had to miss the Hartford Half due to an injury. I can’t say I’m looking forward to the hills but it will be a fun weekend no matter what!
CYCLING |SWIM | STRENGTH
I managed to do all of the above, at least one day a week for the past several months. I will continue to strength train with Antwan, as he is essential to my staying injury-free, and I know I will be binge watching something on the bike trainer though the long winter. < – -I started with El Camino the Breaking Bad movie! #yeahbitch
Antwan posted my post-race pic and this one (below) from one of our intense sessions on his Insta account. I highly recommend anyone in the area to train with him! He is currently accepting new clients and you do not have to be a member of Star Hill to work with him! #lifechanging

THINGS I LOVE
Reiki.
I’m pretty sure I wrote about how the universe spoke to me one day on an airplane? I was on my way to triathlon training camp back in February and having my usual freak out sessions when the woman next to me said “I can tell you there are angels all around us and we will make it to Florida safely.” Something about the way she said it, made me believe her. And no, I normally have zero faith about arriving at any destination alive so…

Turns out she is a reiki master, living in a nearby town in Connecticut so we exchanged information and I have been seeing her for reiki sessions and psychic readings once a month ever since. The things she has told me are simply unbelievable and each time I leave I feel better about my entire life. How many experiences can you say that about?
Of course I have introduced her to all of my friends, because when it comes to universal amazement, I like to share.
This is what happened last time I saw her…
After she conducts the reiki (which is so fantastic I usually fall asleep) she says things like “I feel compelled to tell you…” followed by some mind blowing shit she could not possibly know. This time was different. She “felt compelled” to give me a book. I have so much freakin’ reading for school (which she is aware of!) that I sighed and rolled my eyes. She told me to get over myself and handed me “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz.
I had never heard of this book before in my entire life but if the universe wanted me to read it I would at least skim though it.
Later that day, this showed up in my email from Amazon:

I mean, I realize Amazon also knows everything but this was super freaky! I had not Googled it, talked about it (because I know Alexa listens to everything!) didn’t even think about it, plus it’s a book from like 1997, not some trendy self-help shit like Girl Go Wash Your Face. This is the real deal and I love it.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Columbus Day.
First things first. It’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Columbus was a genocidal monster who discovered nothing and did irreparable damage to an entire race of people through massacres, diseases and forced assimilation. Please, for the love of everything that is still good in this country, stop calling it “Columbus Day!”

What did we do on October 14th this year? I read this to my kids:

It’s an excellent book and teaches kids to question what they are learning in school and to investigate for themselves anything that seems questionable. It’s not anti-school in any way, it’s actually pro independent thinking and learning and challenges young (and not-so-young) readers to find answers for themselves.
READING
So yes I have a shit ton of reading for school (and for the reeducation of my children) but I’ve been very busy listening to audiobooks during my commute. Some of the best are:
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell: as far as I’m concerned, this should be recommended reading for everyone in America. He talks about how we can’t communicate to save our lives, literally, and uses examples like Sandra Bland, Jerry Sandusky, Amanda Knox, Bernie Madoff and so many others. As with all Gladwell reading, it’s fascinating!
She Said by Megan Twohey + Jodi Kantor: You knows these ladies as the NYTimes journalists who broke the Harvey Weinstein scandal but the behind the scenes look as well as an entire chapter and afterward about Christine Blasey-Ford is more than enough reason to read or listen…just keep a puke bucket handy. Weinstein should rot in jail for eternity…or longer…and of course receive daily counseling.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood: OMG if you have watched the Netflix series of The Handmaid’s Tale then this is required reading…or listening. It’s incredibly good — so much better than I even thought it could be — and the actress who plays Aunt Lydia in the series reads the role in the audiobook. Her story is off the charts!
What I’m listening to now: Dear Girls by Ali Wong: it’s hysterical and nice a change from all the seriousness above!
TELEVISION
Fleabag kept popping up on my Prime Video as a “must watch” and like 90% match so I finally gave in and started watching with my husband. I wanted to punch myself in the face for waiting for so long! If you love raunchy comedy, feisty British women and laughing hysterically then this is the series for you.

For now, I’m patiently waiting for the new seasons of Shameless, Ray Donovan and Queer Eye in Japan! YEASSSSSS QUEEN!
RANDOM PHOTO OF THE MONTH
#VermontLife

Drink up people because I’m not sure when I will post again. I know you will all be waiting by your laptops in anticipation…
What have you been coming back from?
Do you believe in the psychic powers of the universe?
Read or watch anything good lately?
I was wondering what happened to you! Life, right? I’m studying for my pediatric mental health certification boards and that has taken priority over everything. I’ll be glad when that’s done.
Glad everything is ok with you! Congrats on that great half marathon finish. You still got it!
Good luck on your boards – that topic sounds super interesting!!
Thank you and YES if I train hard enough, it’s still there 🙂
Nice blog; congrats again on a nice job at Hartford!! I’m jealous. I am currently on the DL./
Can you send me your reiki person’s name and contact info? Please and thank you. Miss you good buddy!
Oh no! Not the D.L.! I will text you with Lisa’s info – you will love her!
Miss you friend!!
Your reiki person sounds fascinating! I’m pretty religious and spiritual, but I also believe in the universal force of karma LOL Just last night, the hubby and I started watching El Camino! I had to head to bed (for this morning’s early morning run), so I only saw maybe the first 20 minutes. I can already feel myself getting sucked back into Breaking Bad.That show was incredible (but in such a dark way). Congrats on a super strong finish at Hartford!
She is!!!
I have yet to finish El Camino too but it makes me want to watch the entire Breaking Bad series all over again!!
Thanks Kim 🙂
We just started flea bag, and although it’s not usually my cup of tea, we’re loving it. I read the four agreements years ago. This race picture of you is gorgeous… this platinum hair suits you so much. Enjoy your studies.
Fleabag is amazing – I mean super smart and also deliciously disgusting 🙂
Thank you so much for saying that about the hair – I really do love it and so glad I took a chance!
Way to go on an amazing half! Now that Coach Lucifer is gone, I need Antwan in my life! You are my Netflix muse and I’m happy to say I’ve got El Camino teed up for this weekend. I love your Reiki story! Many years ago I was sitting in a Tae Kwon Do studio and the woman next to me said “I’m a psychic and I’m getting vibes from you, can we talk?” It was The Coolest. And I so wish I’d have kept in touch with her cuz she was dead on. I swear the universe offers things when you need them most. I’ve read The Four Agreements but I runfess I don’t remember it.
Happy to be your Netflix muse and hope you liked El Camino!
I LOVE the story about sitting down next to a psychic – how lucky!!
And its weird how many people have read that book – I guess it was more popular that I thought. So far, its not life changing – LOL.
I have been wondering where you have been! Miss you on the linkup. Huge congrats on your race. You look really happy! Wondering how you run train differently for tri and for half races you mentioned above? Been wanting to watch Fleabag maybe this weekend
I have missed the link up and reading everyone’s posts! Hopefully things will calm down soon when we get closer to break.
As far as training – I only biked and swam one day a week and worked on running 5-6 days with one speed day, one long run day, one tempo day and the rest easy or recovery runs. When training for triathlon there was a lot more specific bike and swim work!
Hope you’ve been able to watch Fleabag – it’s hysterical.
Remember that time we dominated the Hartford Half Marathon and I was called ‘Adonis’ (by someone to my mother, yuck) and you were called the ‘Fast Mexican?’ Both very false. Ha! Maybe we do a reunion tour and run Hartford together again next year after a winter of shredding powder?
HAHAHA – I vaguely remember something like this 🙂
I love the idea of a reunion run and especially the winter riding that comes before it!! Hopefully it won’t be much longer until we’re on a chair lift together!
Yessssss to the whole ‘Columbus day’ bs. It’s refreshing to read someone else post about this. And you look FIERCE. Hard work pays off. You’re balancing so much right now. Looking forward the next update! In the long-run, you’re still way better than I am at keeping up with posts. Haha
Thank you for commenting about Indigenous Peoples day!! Glad we share the same opinion. And thanks so much for saying that about hard work – its so true!! Hope you’re child balancing act is going well these days.
Great job on the Half! Love the picture of Fall in New England, it’s the season I miss the most.
Thanks for the book suggestions.
Thank you!! And yes – fall is so gorgeous and the weather is perfect for all outdoor activities. I hope it sticks around a little while longer.
It sounds like you’ve been quite the busy lady lately… and I can completely relate. Having a newborn, running my business, and life in general has been kicking my ass lately!
I cannot fathom how busy your life is!? How do you do it? I can barely keep up and I don’t have a job and my kids are in school all day 🙂 Good luck and keep your head up lady!